“I should have made something,” I say, and fold my hands on my lap.
“They don’t expect me to bring anything.” He chuckles quietly. “Not any more anyway.”
I study his strong profile as he drives through downtown. “What’s that mean?”
“They once asked me to make squash, and I cooked it until it was a sacrificial offering.” We both laugh at that and he adds, “I set the bar really low, so now they don’t ask.”
“Yeah, but I’m not you, and I should have brought more than a store-bought baguette. I should have made a lava cake.”
“Hell no. That sets the bar too high, and then every time you came, they’d expect it.”
“It’s not like I’m ever going to have dinner with them again, Liam,” I say, reminding him of our timeline. Oh, and why is that? Because I want him to tell me the hell with it, that we don’t have to end this when summer is over? Yup, that’s pretty much it.
I smooth my hand over my summery dress and take a look at Gavin in the back seat. He’s been so happy these last couple weeks, hanging out with Liam, and doing so many fun things. My heart squeezes tight as I listen to him singing out loud. He really needed a man in his life. A good man, like Liam. Not a man like my ex. An uneasy quiver goes through me. I really hope he doesn’t come sniffing around, now that he knows a famous hockey player is in our lives. I’m not sure what he thinks he could get out of it, but I wouldn’t put anything past him.
I go quiet, lost in thought, and a short while later, he pulls into his parents’ driveway. I glance at the older home in an older neighborhood. With its manicured lawn, and landscaping, it’s very quaint and inviting. “You grew up here.”
“Yup.” He winks at me. “Want to see my bedroom?”
“I do. I want to see it,” Gavin pipes up and I shake my head. Even when I don’t think he’s listening, he’s listening.
“You bet, buddy.”
We all exit his big truck and head up the three steps to the front door. He pushes it open and says, “Your favorite son is home.” That makes me laugh, considering he’s the only son. When no one answers, he says, “They must all be out back.”
“I can’t believe they weren’t all waiting at the door with balloons and a parade for their favorite son.”
“Where’s the love?” he teases. “Come on.” We walk through the house, and I slow, looking at the pictures littering the walls. “Look at this one, Gavin. Liam doesn’t have any front teeth.”
“Adorable then, adorable now. I know, I know,” he says as Gavin laughs at the picture, and as he touches his own front teeth. Warmth fills my heart, but the pictures make me miss my own family.
“Excuse me,” he says to his family as he steps out back. “Where is all my fanfare?” he spreads his arms, and his family just laughs at his antics, but his behavior is different here. He’s being himself, not showing off for the crowd or camera, and I have to say I like the real Liam. A lot.
He turns and winks at me, before taking Gavin’s hand and putting his big palm on the small of my back to push me a little bit ahead of him.
“This is Harper, and my little brother, Gavin.”
“Hi everyone,” I say with a smile and take in the big backyard, the barbecue, the adults around a table and the kids with their fathers playing a game of ring toss. My heart pinches, and a wave of emotions roll through me. Visions of my parents flash in my mind. I miss them so damn much. Miss this kind of family gathering. I take a breath, and get the sense Liam understands my headspace as he steps closer.
“Gavin, do you want to play ring toss with everyone?” Gavin nods, and Liam calls over one of the boys around Gavin’s age. “Gavin, this is Josh. Josh, why don’t you take Gavin to play with you, and I’ll be right over.”
“Okay,” he says and the two run off to play with the other kids. One of the women at the table stands and pulls a chair out for me.
“Come have a seat, Harper.”
“Thanks.” I drop down into the chair. The next thing I know, a glass of wine is in front of me, and Liam does the introductions. I say hello to his three sisters, and his folks, and wave to the guys playing with the kids, and I instantly feel comfortable with them all. I have no idea what I was worried about. They’re all so nice and inviting.
Liam touches my hand, and angles his head in question when I pull it away and tuck it into my lap. “You okay if I go play with the kids?”
“Sure, go ahead,” I say as he looks at me for a second longer before he goes off to hang with his brothers-in-law and nieces and nephews.
“Your son is adorable,” Liam’s sister, Tanya, says as I watch the kids playing. “That one is mine.” She points to the little girl around six. She’s standing over the boys with her hands on her hips, and she reminds me of Daisy and her take-no-crap nature. What was Tanya’s daughter’s name again? Robyne, right. “Robyne is such a pretty name.”
Her eyes go wide and her head goes back. “What?”
I glance around, to find all eyes at the table on me. “Did I get her name wrong?”
“No, it’s just surprising that you know my daughter’s name.” She runs her finger
